178 Whitlock, Notes on Novth-Western Birds. [i^f April 



specimen) has a distinctly stouter bill, recalling the original figure,* 

 which appears to have exaggerated that feature to call attention to 

 it. The white markings on the scapulars extend to the secondaries, 

 which are pure white, while in the latter they are brownish with 

 white edgings ; the wing in the Barrow Island form is noticeably 

 longer. As no series is available, these characters may not be 

 constant, but, as Campbell emphasized, the localities are five hundred 

 miles apart, and consequently the forms must, for the present, be 

 regarded as sub-specifically separable." 



The present " Check-list " shows one black-and-white species — 

 namely, Malurus leucopterus. It must be left to the new " Check- 

 list " Committee to say whether M. edouardi should be added as a 

 sub-species. There is no reason why a species on separate islands 

 should change. Take, for instance, the New Zealand " Tit " {Petvceca 

 macrocephala), found on both Chatham Islands and Auckland Is- 

 lands (double the distance apart than Dirk Hartog and Barrow) ; 

 it has not varied (" Animals of New Zealand," Hut ton and Drum- 

 mond, p. 2,2^,). 



Owing to bright blue feathers occasionally occurring in the male 

 Black-and-White Wren (Carter, Ibis, October, 191 7, p. 597) and the 

 similarity of plumage in the female of both llack-and-w hitc and 

 blue-and-vvhite birds, tend to prove that the former (island bird) 

 has evolved from the latter (mainland bird). If these premises be 

 reasonable, Mr. Mathews is hardly warranted in splitting the genus 

 into two — repectively Nesomalurus and Hallornis. Why not adhere 

 to the ornithological and original name, Malurus, for both ? If 

 simplicity is the highest in art, it should also be in science. — A. J. C] 



Allied Desert-Bird {Evemiornis (carieri) assimilis). — Fairly common 

 on Barrow Island, and frequenting the coarse shore grass of the sand- 

 hills, but more often the dense and very harsh spinifex both near the 

 coast and in the low-lying interior valleys. Its habits were much the 

 same as I have observed and recorded from the Upper Coongan River. 

 I spent many hours searching amongst the coarse herbage for a nest, 

 and only discontinued when I found by dissection this species was 

 not breeding. I could see but little if any difference in plumage 

 from mainland birds. The Barrow Island specimens may perhaps 

 be a little darker in tone on the mantle and upper parts generally. 



Australian Pipit (Ground-Lark) {Antlms australis). — A few pairs 

 only. Specimens shot were unfortunately too damaged to make 

 presentable skins. 



Ground-Dove or " Mangrove-Pigeon " {Geopelia tranqiiilla). — A few 

 pairs in the mangroves and amongst the snake-wood bushes at 

 feeding time. 



Sacred Kingfisher {Halcyon sanctus). — A single bird seen several 

 times near the cutter, but very wary of a near approach. 



Carnarvon White-eye (Zostevops balstoni). — Fairly common amongst 

 the small patches of mangroves. I was struck by the richness of 

 the coloration when fresh killed. 



This completes the list of strictly land-birds, but I observed pairs 

 of Reef-Herons, Little Mangrove-Bitterns, and another still smaller 

 Bittern. The latter would not allow of a near approach. I also saw 

 several times a single Little Egret. 



* Vide Emu, vol. i., p. 66. — Eds. 



